Chapter 25
853 Words
“An amplifier has its own energy, Ari. If it doesn’t match yours, the consequences can be… unpleasant. That’s why they’re given in infancy, so the child adapts to it.”
“The child adapts to the amplifier?”
“Yes. Every person carries all of four elements. To prevent imbalance, children are attuned early.”
“And if their true element was different? Isn’t that… unnatural?”
“Yes. You’re right. Lea realized that too. But it was too late.”
“Lea? You mean Lea Arn? How do you know that?”
I felt a wave of sadness from the dragon.
“I was her dragon, Ari.”
“What? Then… you’re the last dragon of Air?”
“Yes… and no, Ari.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m nothing more than the soul of the last dragon of the House of Air… living inside you.”
“How did you get into my world? What happened to Lea on Mount Isaac?”
“I don’t know. You have to help me find out. I need the truth, justice… and vengeance, so I won’t betray her faith in me.”
I was stunned.
I had suspected Aria was connected to the House of Air. She had saved me, healed me, given me the ability to breathe again, but that she was a dragon… the dragon of the Supreme? That was something else entirely. A twist I hadn’t seen coming.
Now I understood why this mattered so much to her.
“So what am I supposed to do about Flaming’s offer? If his amplifier doesn’t suit me, and it probably won’t, I don’t need it.”
“And what if it does?” Aria asked quietly. “Every human carries all of four elements within. Your energy, like Ariel’s, has never been suppressed by amplifiers. Right now, this is an opportunity. You should try.”
“And if it doesn’t match? How will I know?”
“I can’t explain it… but you will know. And if the heir of the House of Fire isn’t a fool, he’ll know too. An amplifier isn’t a toy. It can’t be given to just anyone, at just any time. It can’t be taken or stolen. It must recognize its master. Only then will it serve, and only for the purpose it was created for.”
“Then I should try,” I agreed.
It was already nine.
I was late.
I hated being late and I hated when others were late to me. It was disrespectful. Wasting of time, of boundaries. Knowing that, I hurriedly pulled on the first dress I could find, fixed my long hair, and set off toward the party.
“Be careful, Ari,” the dragon said, her voice sounds like a mentor’s warning.
The party was already in full swing.
It felt like everyone was there.
How was I supposed to find Ray Flaming in this crowd?
I pushed deeper inside. Beams of light cut through the dimness in restless flashes. I searched the faces of laughing, dancing students: beautiful, careless, alive. My goal was to find the heir of the House of Fire… and avoid Eleanor Vars and Noah Aquaris.
For ten minutes, I wandered the vast hall without success.
Finally, I gave up the search and decided to trust fate. I leaned against the wall, watching the academy students.
They looked happy. Carefree.
As if this endless celebration was enough for them.
Didn’t they ever tire of it? Every day like this, it was too much. At least for me.
Music pulsed through the air.
Listening more closely, I caught the lyrics:
“I’ve always liked to play with fire.”
“Looks like I might have to play with fire too,” I murmured.
“There you are! Late again, pathetic!” Dan’s voice cut in as he approached.
“What do you want?” I asked, unsure.
“Me?” he scoffed. “Nothing. I thought you were the one with business with Ray. He’s already waiting and he doesn’t like to wait.”
“Where is he?”
“There.” He pointed toward a glass balcony on the second floor.
“Up there?” I echoed, already mapping the path.
“Yeah. Come on, I’ll take you.”
We crossed the dance floor toward the glass loggia.
Only when we reached the wide staircase did he speak again.
“Can you tell me, what business do you have with Ray?”
“He didn’t tell you? I thought you were friends.”
“We are. And here’s some advice: don’t play games with him, sweetheart. The price will be too high.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t wake a sleeping dragon if you don’t know how to handle it. And one more thing — never forget: everything here has eyes and ears. Stay sharp.” He nodded toward a black door at the top of the stairs. “You’re going that way. Good luck,beauty.”
He winked and left me alone on the staircase.
What did he mean?
- Writer
